KARACHI: ABHI Microfinance Bank Ltd. has entered into a strategic partnership with CBA, a major venture of EPL (PVT) Limited, in a move aimed at expanding financial accessibility, accelerating digital innovation, and empowering millions of retail merchants across Pakistan.
Under the collaboration, ABHI Microfinance Bank will utilize CBA’s extensive digital network to launch a next-generation Super Agent Network along with customized retailer lending solutions. The partnership is designed to address key financial challenges faced by Pakistan’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including limited access to liquidity, formal credit, and branchless banking services.
According to the statement, the initiative will strengthen financial interoperability by expanding branchless banking services across urban and semi-urban areas through a compliant and technology-driven operational framework. The system will support real-time cash-in and cash-out services, digital transaction routing, and secure biometric account opening for underserved retail communities.
The agreement also includes safeguards to ensure operational stability. Both parties retain the right to terminate the partnership in the event of an unresolved material breach following a 30-day cure period, or through a 30-day written notice without cause, provided all outstanding obligations and accounts are properly settled.
A key feature of the partnership is the integration of instant digital credit facilities and working capital solutions directly into CBA’s merchant ecosystem. The initiative aims to replace traditional banking hurdles with a streamlined digital financing structure.
The platforms will be connected through secure APIs and SDKs, with both organizations jointly responsible for technical integration and system testing to ensure operational reliability across financing cycles. Retailers will be able to apply directly through the digital platform, which will route alternative data sources — including real-time KYC verification and cash-flow histories — to ABHI for credit assessment. Once approved, customers will receive dedicated wallet accounts and immediate short-term financing disbursement.
To protect the lending portfolio, the platform partner will provide a corporate guarantee along with a demand promissory note in favor of ABHI. The financing structure will also include automated debit authorities, structured collections mechanisms, continuous fraud monitoring, and strict anti-money laundering (AML) compliance procedures to safeguard the system.